Osteoporosis 6- Chronic Stress (addendum)

I wanted to another thought on cortisol and the influence on bone.  Many people have heard of cortisone.  You may have received a cortisone injection for a nagging tendinitis or recurrent musculoskeletal complaint.  Many physicians will limit the number of cortisone injections a person can receive at the same site per year.  In other words, if you have an injection in the elbow, most physicians will not allow more than 3 per year.  The primary concern is the potential side effects including bone loss and joint damage to the area it is administered.

The point here is not to discuss the correct use of cortisone injections.  Personally,  I feel they can be remarkably helpful in some situations.  But understand that cortisone and cortisol are biochemical siblings.  They are very similar in function.  If doctors worry about cortisone destroying bone, then we are right in our thinking that chronic cortisol production in the body (due to stress) also wreaks havoc on bone.